![Corepad [Gaming Mouse Foot] Skatez for Microsoft Sidewinder X3 CS27960](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51B3Q9L1CdL._AC_UL400_.jpg)
I'd like to preface this review by saying this; I love this mouse, but it could use some improvement.
If anyone cares, the box that the mouse comes in is very nice. I am not going to go into detail because who cares? All you need to know is that it will keep the mouse in great shape.
The thing I would like to talk about first is the actual hardware itself. In this regard, the mouse is as good as I have ever seen. I am going to go over the pieces of the mouse individually and give my thoughts. The first part is the top plastic piece, this is in a Y shape that extends from the back of the mouse, and make up the buttons for the right and left click. This piece has a very fine texturing to it that gives it a "soft" feel, while being your standard hard plastic. The slight texture not only gives it an exceptional feel, but it provides good friction that means getting a nice hold of the top piece is extremely easy. I really love this part of the mouse and I think the material choice was an excellent one.
The second piece are the side panels, they are separate pieces but they are the same material. These too are a hard plastic material, although they do not have the same soft feel. Instead they have a more coarse texturing, this provides exceptional grip, albeit a less comfortable one. This is really not an issue however, very little of your hand is even on it and the parts that are consist of your finger tips. So I think they made a great decision here too, a little less comfortable, but much greater tactility.
Next the macro keys on the right side, these buttons consists of two fairly standard "forward/back, up/down etc." buttons and the sniper button. The two toggle buttons are out of the way to the point that you will not hit them, but also to where you do not need to change your grip to reach them. The sniper button is right at the tip of your thumb, assuming you have fairly standard size hands like myself. The button is more of a dark, shiny red. The button switch appears to be the same one found in the left/right keys. (Don't quote me, just a guess) Using the button in game play is easy and its response is instant. The only issue I have with it is that if you pick up your mouse to adjust it on your pad you may hit it, which can cause an unexpected change in DPI. However if your not cheap like I am and get an actual gaming mouse pad instead of a small one like mine, I would guess that this won't be an issue.
Next scroll wheel and DPI buttons, the scroll wheel is jet black aluminum. It has a large ribbed rubber jacket over it that i personally really like. It is squishy and tall for great tactility. The scrolling motion is very chunky, this is essential for gaming. Many other aspects to a mouse are subjective, this one is not. For gaming a nice clunky scroll wheel is a must. The DPI selector is not ever hit during gaming unless you intend too. To do so a very slight change of grip may be needed depending on your hands. Theses are made out of the same material as the Y shaped top, so bonus points to corsair.
Finally the aluminum chassis/Bottom/RGB. As you might expect, the aluminum chassis give the mouse fantastic rigidity an exceptional look. There not much else to say about it, it has no impact on it performance. The bottom has 5 large Teflon pads, which provide exceptional glide. They are also spread out nicely which allows the mouse to slid easily even if uneven force is on it, this is great for gaming. The RGB function is great, the back section is bright and the colors are even and the color you want. The light illuminates the corsair name and logo at the back as well as the back frame and surrounding areas. The one on the front by the scroll wheel is the same story, kind of. The colors are great and even, but they are not very bright at all. If view from the angle in the picture, you cannot tell if there is even a light on at all. The only way you can see it, unless it is very dark, is directly above it or in front of the mouse. I did not buy this mouse because of its lights but since I did pay for them, I would like more brightness in the front. The weight systems is also nice, you can remove the included weights, or some of them, or leave them in. I suppose you could make your own if you wanted too. I left them all in because I like a slightly heavier mouse, which is what this is. Not super heavy.
Final thoughts? This is great, the only thing I did not mention was the cord, it is fantastic as well. The only thing I have had problems with was software. That being said there was an update that came out about an hour before I wrote this review, and thus far all those issues have been solved. I will update if they persist. The included software as far as creating profiles works very well. However it is quite clunky, and a fairly steep learning curve is present. But once you learn it, it does work exactly as it says it will. So this is my new favorite mouse of all time, aside from some very minor software bugs and slightly underwhelming lighting, this mouse is beyond anything I have ever used. I also appreciate its less aggressive over all design when compared to many other gaming mouses. I use this mouse every day as my primary mouse, and several other gaming mouses I have used I would not want to use for anything other than gaming. So if you do not mind the slightly high-ish price, buy it.If you want to save a few bucks, go with the non RGB.
| Brand | Corsair |
|---|---|
| Item model number | CH-9000022-NA |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Item Weight | 11.2 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 13.6 x 9.6 x 12.4 inches |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 13.6 x 9.6 x 12.4 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Manufacturer | Corsair |
| ASIN | B00ARD5410 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | December 20, 2012 |
